Al Stewart - Year of the Cat

Al Stewart had found his voice on Past, Present & Future and found his sound on Modern Times. He then perfected it all on 1976's Year of the Cat, arguably his masterpiece. There is no overarching theme here, as there was on its two immediate predecessors, but the impossible lushness of Alan Parsons' production and Stewart's evocative Continental narratives give the record a welcome feeling of cohesion that keeps the record enchanting as it moves from "Lord Grenville" to "Midas Shadow" to "Broadway Hotel," before it ends with the haunting title track. Along the way, Stewart doesn't dwell too deeply in any area, preferring to trace out mysteries with his evocative lyrical imagery and a spinning array of self-consciously sophisticated music, songs that evoke American and European folk and pop with a deliberate grace. This could be unbearably precious if it didn't work so well. Stewart is detached from his music, but only in the sense that he gives this album a stylish elegance, and Parsons is his perfect foil, giving the music a rich, panoramic sweep that mimics Stewart's globe-trotting songs. The result is a tremendous example of how good self-conscious progressive pop can be, given the right producer and songwriter -- and if you're a fan of either prog or pop and haven't given Al Stewart much thought, prepare to be enchanted. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Al Stewart Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals (Background) Alan Parsons Producer Andrew Powell Strings, String Arrangements, Arranger Bill Inglot Remastering Bobby Bruce Violin Cheryl Pawelski Project Assistant Chris Bellman Remastering Colin Elgie Cover Design Dan Hersch Remastering David Pack Vocals (Background), Vocals Don Lobster Keyboards Emily Cagan Project Assistant George Ford Bass Ginger Dettman Project Assistant Graham Smith Harmonica Hugh Brown Art Direction John G. Perry Vocals, Vocals (Background) John Perry Vocals (Background) Julee Stover Project Assistant Luke O'Reilly Direction, ? Marion Driscoll Triangle, Percussion Nancy L. Hopkins Design, Art Direction Neville Judd Photography Patrick Milligan Reissue Coordination Peter White Keyboards, Guitar Peter Wood Keyboards Phil Kenzie Saxophone, Sax (Alto) Rob Brimson Photography Steve Chapman Project Assistant Steve Woolard Project Assistant Stuart Elliot Vocals (Background), Drums, Percussion Stuart Elliott Drums, Percussion, Vocals (Background) Thane Tierney Liner Notes Tim Renwick Guitar Tony Rivers Vocals, Vocals (Background) Tony Rivers & The Castaways Vocals (Background)